MAM
FTA Global adds AI-powered punch with Rohit Salian as VP brand & strategy
MUMBAI: When creativity meets code, the sparks can light up a brand. That’s the bet FTA Global is making with the appointment of Rohit Salian as vice president for brand & strategy, a role that also hands him the reins of the company’s freshly minted FTA Creative Labs. The new-age marketing company wants to rewire how campaigns are imagined, merging human imagination with artificial intelligence to craft brand stories that are scalable, insight-rich and, in their words, “future-defining.”
Salian, with over 12 years in the advertising trenches, has worn multiple creative and strategic hats at NP Digital India, Oliver+, Creative Land Asia and others. His portfolio packs heavyweight campaigns from the brand revamp of Standard Chartered India to Reliance Jio’s blockbuster launch plus Effies for Good-winning work.
In his dual mandate, Salian will shape FTA Global’s brand playbook while building Creative Labs into an innovation hub that treats AI not as a threat, but a collaborator. “We’re building a space where campaigns are not just made, but imagined differently with speed, scale and soul,” he said.
FTA Global founder & MD Senthil Kumar Hariram calls the move “transformative,” adding that Salian’s mix of brand ecosystem know-how and creative vision will “push boundaries and redefine the way brands communicate in a digital-first world.”
If all goes to plan, FTA Global won’t just ride the AI wave, it’ll be busy teaching it how to surf.
Brands
Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
